Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation is a private, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization under the section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code that "collaborates with partners from the public and private sectors to build leadership, improve policy and regulation, and strengthen institutions to foster greater openness and shared prosperity in the Asia Pacific region." The Foundation has a network of 19 offices throughout the Asia Pacific and the United States.

"The Asia Foundation was founded in 1954 and throughout the 1960s had an annual budget of about $8 million. This money was used to support Asian schools and libraries, give travel grants to Asians for international conferences, and in support of expanded Pacific trade. In 1967 it was revealed that they were receiving CIA funds. Victor Marchetti, once an executive assistant to the CIA's deputy director, is less delicate -- he says Asia Foundation was established by the CIA and until 1967 was heavily subsidized by them, even though some of their activities were legitimate.

"These days the National Endowment for Democracy model is preferred over those old, risky, secret CIA conduits, so in 1984 the Asia Foundation Act provided for funds from the Department of State. In 1987 the Foundation received $10 million from State and another $3.7 million from AID, in addition to private support (88 percent of which was in the form of donated books) and matching Asian contributions. We wonder if Asia Foundation is really out of the U.S. intelligence loop after all." 


 * Douglas Bereuter - President (as of 2004)

Officers


 * William L. Ball III, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee; President, National Soft Drink Association; Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy
 * Michael H. Armacost, Vice Chairman; Shorenstein Distinguished Fellow for Political Affairs, Asia/Pacific Research Center, Stanford University; Former U.S. Ambassador and Under Secretary of State
 * William P. Fuller, President (stepped down in 2004)
 * Susan J. Pharr, Secretary
 * Edwin O. Reischauer, Professor of Japanese Politics, Director, Program on U.S.-Japan Relations, and Acting Director, Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, Harvard University
 * Paul S. Slawson, Treasurer; Business Leader
 * Barnett F. Baron, Executive Vice President
 * Gordon R. Hein, Vice President, Programs
 * Nancy Yuan, Vice President and Director, Washington, D.C.
 * John Croizat, Assistant Treasurer
 * Gretchen Yen, Assistant Secretary

Members / Officers and Senior Staff in U.S. / Staff in Asia

Related SourceWatch

 * Gavin Tritt
 * Jeffrey T. Bergner